Joyce, I know this will shock you, but I have a different take on this matter. I don't believe that any of the witnesses you refer to were named as such in any contemporary account. I think all of these folks claimed to see what they reported no closer thn 40+ years after the event. I might be wrong and you can shoot me down with any contemporary source that names any of them as witnesses. They might have seen what they claimed, but I know of no ay to be sure any of them were the itnesses referred to by the District Attorney.
By the way, I m sure you are aware that there is a source that quotes Mrs. Slaughter telling the story of she and John driving in a wagon at night when they noticed a rider shadowing them whom they knew to be a rustler and whom John had told he would shoot on sight if he ever found him on his ranch. This rider shadowed them for several miles but thought better of tangling with John Slaughter and rode off. Which was a good thing for him because Slaughter had his hand on his rifle the entire time. According to Mrs. Slaughter, the mysterious rider was your beloved IKe Clanton.
...what the social status of the reported witnesses were; were they town derelicts or worthwhile citizens of the township? One would think that John Slaughter and his wife were substantial witnesses... more
Re: One has to wonder... — Bob Cash,Mon Aug 01 18:03
...my concern was that the DA , Price, sloughed it off so casually. His references to witnesses that were not named bother me. Even though we now understand that testimony or reference information by men... more
Joyce, you state: "...my concern was that the DA , Price, sloughed it off so casually. His references to witnesses that were not named bother me. Even though we now understand that testimony or reference... more
...and maybe I will make more sense. There seem to be several differing accounts of Slaughter's recognizing Holliday and I have not heard anything anywhere about Ike Clanton following him to rob... more
...Frank Vaughn is an interesting man, apparently. His record as an Arizona pioneer at a time when everyday life became an opportunity for greater things for almost everyone who wanted to progress is a... more
I find nothing in my research of Frank Vaughn to suggest he was anything but an upstanding citizen. However, as I pointed out in a previous post, many "eyewitnesses" of Tombstone events apparently related... more
Integrity is crucial in an investigation, as you say, but my concern from the beginning is why did the DA write it all off with a flip "...not even a suspicion..." It appears that even with substantial... more
...We are talking about the District Attorney questioning witnesses on or about July 9, 1881, not 40 years later. His conclusion, after interviewing men such as Frank Vaughn and John Slaughter, that "...there... more
Bob on page 181 of Bechdolts book. When the West was Young. Bechdolt also says this was on the night after the attack on the Benson bound coach. Mr. and Mrs. John Slaughter are listed under... more
Does it seem plausable to you that Doc would try to rob Slaughter just after attempting to rob the stage, while riding one of the best known horses in the county?
Bob It was not just after the stage attack but 24 hours later. Bechdolt also says this, "Knew his bronco as soon as I saw that blazed face show," John Slaughter said in explanation of his quick... more